Democrats and three GOP vote against ending the policy

In the Troy Public School District, a teacher whose total
compensation tops $139,000 is paid by the district to do union business. There are 39 other school districts that have
similar arrangements and these cost taxpayers $2.7 million.

House Bill 4059
would end that practice. It passed the state House of Representatives on a vote of 59-47
this week. All Democrats and three Republicans voted against the bill.

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The bill still needs to be passed by the state Senate and the
signed by the governor to become law. It is sponsored by Rep. Marty Knollenberg,
R-Troy.

“Paying someone with taxpayers’ dollars to negotiate against
the taxpayer – it makes no sense,” said Rep. Dave Agema,
R-Grandville. “It’s an abuse of taxpayers’ dollars by one of the wealthiest
unions in the states.”

Workers who chose to leave unions want to fend for themselves but current law requires unions in union shops to negotiate their pay and work conditions. "Worker's Choice" gives employees the freedom to choose representation.

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